In this column, ACA staff members reflect on what we are reading, what we are thinking about, how we address the balance between our work lives and our creative lives (and the points at which those intersect). We asked Rashad T. Bailey, ACA’s Director of Development + Partnerships, to share what he’s been thinking about.

In honor of ACA’s 35th Anniversary, we are sharing 35 stories from field leaders. We asked Jason Kalajainen, who served on the ACA board from 2012-2021, and as ACA Board Chair during that time, to share a short memory, artifact, or reflection that captures what ACA has meant to him—or how he imagines the future of artist support. Jason Kalajainen serves as the Co-Trustee of the Holly Palmer Trust and the Holly Palmer Foundation, which supports arts and culture, human rights, and environmental initiatives. Previously Jason served as Executive Director of the Luminarts Cultural Foundation and Executive Director of Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency, one of the Country’s oldest and preeminent residency programs.

As part of ACA’s ongoing reflection on our history and evolution over the past decades, we remain guided and inspired by the leaders who have shaped this field. In this column, we speak with members and colleagues whose perspectives illuminate the past, present, and future of artist communities. For this issue, we talk with Alana Hernandez, Senior Curator at the ASU Art Museum, whose work is dedicated to expanding access, centering Latinx artists, and reimagining what institutional support can look like.

In honor of ACA’s 35th Anniversary, we are sharing 35 stories from field leaders. First up is Sanjit Sethi, who has served the ACA board since 2017 and has been co-chair since 2022. We invited Sanjit to share a short memory, artifact, or reflection that captures what ACA has meant to him—or how he imagines the future of artist support. Sanjit currently serves as Head of Campus at Green Schools Bali.

As part of ACA’s own reflection on our history and evolution over the past few decades, we remain inspired by our members. In this column, we will speak to members about their experiences with ACA and with the residency field. For this issue, we talk with Ruth Adams, Executive Director of Art Omi.